Justice Society Presents – The Sandman Slept Here 4

9 responses to “Justice Society Presents – The Sandman Slept Here 4”

1. Favorite hero that wears a hat
   It’s Tie as several versions of the Doctor in his classic version wears hats . And the golden age super hero the fighting yank and the green hornet . .
   Also for weird dreams I’ve had some back in the 90’s . I remember a dream I found my self in world of sailor moon and the hero’s where on the ropes there main back up was nocked out . So I pulled a super man and jumped in to phone booth and came out I’m a little fuzzy here but I think came out as kento of hardrock or it might have bin night crawler . And saved the day (little fuzzy ) I think that was it more or less .

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2. Hello, my Sand Men! Another excellent discussion on this series. I caught myself marveling that each story isn’t following the same pattern or beats. For pulp novels of the time, that would be the usual approach, where the same things happen and it’s part of the charm. But this is so much better with nuance and surprises and character growth. We can see Dian starting to question who Wesley is, because she’s that smart, and he wouldn’t be attracted to her if she was a ditz who would just walk off in a huff when he excuses himself abruptly, saying “Hmmf! Men!” So it’ll be interesting to see if Wes becomes more careful, or if this is deliberately paced to him revealing his other life, like they teased us with in this very chapter. It’s so much fun!

   I do worry about Burke. I actually think repeated concussions would be worse for his health than the gassing. But we know he has a temper, and his anger towards the Sandman is just growing. When this boils over, it will be a mess. Which this series is honestly perfect for tackling. So like watching Nascar, I’m kinda looking forward to it. Don’t judge me.

   And the Sand Doll. I am fascinated by it, and glad it hasn’t been discussed yet. Where did he get it? What is it for? Why is it important to Wes? I have theories, but I’d rather hold back and watch this unfold.

   Now I do have thoughts about one of the plot holes, but I also think the story should have clarified it somehow if I’m right. Why did Madeline as The Vamp go with Burke? The practical reason is to establish The Vamp as a loose woman who sleeps around. If *every* man she left with ended up dead, that would be too much attention. So The Vamp is easily dismissed by any witnesses, nothing special, just a bar fly looking to get laid. And she didn’t know Burke was a detective, so it was her keeping up the act. The personal reason: with the extreme trauma Madeline went thru, she views sex as asserting power and dominance over men, in defiance of the gang rape that took her power away. That’s borne out in what you all noticed: she can’t turn off her flirting, because it either gives her control of the situation, or drives away people she wants distance from. It’s also shown in the sex scenes themselves. She takes the initiative. She’s “on top” physically and thematically. Men are her playthings, because she has decided she will never lose control again. Like I said, if true, this needed more clarity on the pages, because it’s very important to The Vamp’s character.

   And just to make my comment even MORE uncomfortable, what about the parallel of gathering men’s blood for this group’s new home, in relation to a woman’s menstrual cycle? Yeesh, I think WAY too much reading this series! LOL.

   Character with a hat: too many options come up when I think on it or do research, so I’ll share my first impulse which was the Lone Ranger. I remember watching reruns of this TV show as a kid, on Sunday mornings after church, aired on WGN before cable. He was SO COOL! All the kids in the neighborhood wanted to be him. I know losing his hat it supposed to be a “stuff just got real!” moment, but no, he doesn’t look right without his hat.

   Thanks for putting up with my ramblings. I guess that’s a side effect of each episode covering 4 issues. But guys, seriously, I am loving this series and your discussions! Looking forward to more in 2026!

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3. Favorite fictional character who wears a hat is a TOUGH choice. But for the sake of insanity, I’ll say Lincoln Hawk. IYKYK. If you don’t know, then get to googling.

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4. Great review as always. Just a few thoughts –

   I talked about Burke in some earlier comment but he is one of the few non-Gangster Italian-Americans in comics (and even they are rare). So I find him intriguing, seeing some of my Grandparents and their friends in him. He has to be filled with self-loathing, probably fiercely proud of who he is and where he is from but hiding behind the Anglicized Burke. I think he is an ‘ends justify the means’ kind of cop, perhaps what Harvey Bullock would be in a Vertigo book. I think somewhere along the way we learn his real name and meet his family … at least I think we do.

   Second, one thing I love about Guy Davis art is that people look like … well … people. Yes there are (as Ryan says) boobies and sex in this arc. But imagine if this book was drawn by Frank Cho or Jim Balent or Adam Hughes. This is a grimy and quite real looking world, where naked people have rolls and creases and realistic anatomy. It somehow makes it much less dirty.

   As for characters with hats – Indiana Jones comes to mind immediately. But for a deeper cut, I’ll say Captain Gloval from Robotech.

   Thanks as always for the coverage.

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   1. Gloval has a pretty rocking hat, Anj, but I’d prefer his coat. Still, wonderful to see a Robotech shoutout.

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5. Great discussion as always gents. Interesting how you mentioned the covers looking very dated, which I agree with. I remember being gobsmacked at the first Vertigo covers I saw, noting how edgy and completely different they were than anything I’d seen before. In hindsight DC/Vertigo probably would have been better served to commission pulp-like painted covers that would have fit the material better, and would have also stood the test of time.

   I haven’t read this story, but the nod to Carmilla was welcome! If you’ve never read that Sheridan Le Fanu story, I highly recommend it. It predated Dracula, and influenced Stoker’s take on vampirism. Hammer made an excellent adaptation, The Vampire Lovers, starring Ingrid Pitt as the titular vamp. And if you like some of the stuff Guy Davis drew in this story arc, you’ll really dig that film!

   Favorite hero with a hat is a dead-heat between the Lone Ranger and Zorro, although I will give a slight nod to the later, as he has enjoyed more good adaptations. I haven’t completely cared for any version of the Lone Ranger since the 50s TV series and films!

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6. As for favorite hero in a hat, Leonard Sly and his horse Golden Cloud, better known as Roy Rogers and Trigger.
   If they have to be completely fictional, let’s go back to the thrilling days of yesteryear with John Reed “the Lone Ranger”, or his great nephew Britt Reed “The Green Hornet”.

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   1. Respect another fan of the green hornet and Lone Ranger . Random fact : the green hornet had arch enemy in the radio show : Oliver Perry . A private investigator.

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7. Fellas, your approach to this show is terrific. As befits the material, you navigate the three-headed discussions with a directness and deliberateness, while leaving room for needed levity. I appreciate your respect for the material and each other,as it makes good listening! Sexually driven serial ritual murders? Needs gravitas. I don’t have any particular comments to make. Heroes in hats? Okay!
   The question really got me thinking! I wanted to steer away from the obvious, there are so many good candidates (see above!) As I was letting my mind drift through fictional characters, I hit on it! Derby Dugan!
   Derby Dugan is the star of a fictional comic strip from the 1930s in the novel “Derby Dugan’s Depression Funnies” by Tom De Haven. I thought of him because this was the book that I wanted to share with Max on his lamented podcast The Mirror Factory! The book is told in first person by the writer of the Dugan strip, Al Bready. The passage that I would have used on Max’s show was about how he fell in love with a woman and how both of them pretended that he hadn’t. Bready is one of my favorite characters, partly because of his unrequited love. I was impelled to re-read the book before typing this note! I’ve even started re-reading the book that precedes it, “The Funny Papers.”
   There you go, Max! The Mirror Factory may be closed, but some of the mirrors it produced are still reflecting!

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